Escalator Weightless Weight Testing: A Case Study from a UK Metro

The escalator braking system is the most important safety component. It is thus necessary to ensure that brakes are tested at regular intervals in order to ensure passenger safety. Carrying out this test using weights is a very complex, risky and expensive procedure, and thus cannot be carried out regularly. For this reason, a model for a weightless brake testing system has been developed for testing the escalator brakes. This paper describes the work carried out by the author in setting up a weightless brake testing system for testing the escalator brakes at the Tyne & Wear Metro in the United Kingdom. The first step was to gather escalator type test data on the four escalator models on the Metro. In the second step, the data from the weight tests was used to build a theoretical mathematical model in MS Excel for the different types of escalators. The model allowed the operator to understand the range of acceptable deceleration values that indicate compliant operational brakes. In the third step, all the remaining 28 escalators (out of the full fleet of 32 escalators) were tested and adjusted without the use of weights. They were adjusted in accordance with the outputs of the theoretical model. In the fourth and last test, a training manual was developed for the testing and adjusting the braking systems. On-site training was carried out for the maintenance staff